Loss for words.

Is usually something I.am.not… Let’s be honest, for one thing I am a complete OPEN BOOK.. I don’t keep secrets mainly because I’m simply a bad liar and terrible at ‘not including people’ (even if and when they don’t want to be included). I’m generally all-or-nothing, too honest for my own good kind of person. I contemplate the big ideas/theories and the why’s and what if’s in life maybe all too often. I’ve been milling around with the notion of giving up photography. Truth be known – the business side of photography really doesn’t appeal much to me and in order to be a great photographer the need to be proficient in socializing (I would consider myself socially awkward at times, forced extroversion if you will), a master marketing genius(who has the time to sit on their computer all day long or make cold calls trying to tell folks how wonderful you really are? sigh) IT and computer techie that knows how google rankings, search engines, behind the scenes how everything works in order to even BE SEEN on the interwebs. God knows I can barely figure out how my blog works on any given day. So this leaves me not doing the things I love most, or would even consider myself good at.

WHAT I AM GOOD AT is taking photos and being 100% sincerely interested in the human element of photography. The side of me that I know best is the one that wants to know people, their stories, who they really are and hopefully within them I can find that tiny cracked window when someone sees their images they can see how the world sees them as beautiful human beings instead of the flawed versions that live inside of us.

Recently I’ve asked myself if that’s really what my clients want. Do they care about the same things that I do in a photo? There are days and moments I find myself bitter that cell phones and selfies have numbed our photo experience to necessity & quick vanity rather than an art form or a way to capture someone’s spirit. But I won’t give up hope there are still folks that want or need the thing I can provide them. Is it time to throw in the towel since times are changing and is there no longer a need for my services? Who really wants or needs great photography anymore? Isn’t wedding photography now just another service rather than a story? I’m asking all the big questions b/c that’s what I do. Where do I fit into this ever-changing world and can I keep up?

As I ponder these things I get this AMAZING (man, I wish there was a more magnormous word) Review from Shannon, a client from FOUR YEARS AGO that made me remember that some folks really do appreciate and love what I can offer them. The feeling I had reading her words made every goose bump raise on my arms and reminded me why I had loved photography for the reason I LOVED photography. The human element behind a single ‘picture’. I may not always be as busy as I want to be or need to be even but I hope every.single.time that God and the Universe pairs me with the people that appreciate what I do and I can offer them my gifts in return. Thanks for this today. I can only imagine after 4 years and feeling that way about their images is a huge testament that the right clients still appreciate photography. Faith restored.

Last weekend at a friend’s wedding, I ran into an old coworker. She kept raving about how she continues to look at my wedding pictures (4 years old now), and can’t stop going through them thinking “these are the BEST wedding pictures I’ve ever seen” she also said it makes her want to hide her wedding pictures because they don’t even compare! This is just one reason I picked Tomme! I still cherish our pictures, engagement, bridals, wedding day, and a family session! Tomme took her time with us to capture every aspect of our love! She made us feel so comfortable and that we were photogenic! Love her energy, her eye for perfect pictures and the friendship we have developed since the first time meeting! Pictures last forever, don’t cheap out on pictures because you think they are “expensive”! They are artwork and something you will cherish FOREVER!!!

One thought on “Loss for words.”

Love you! And don’t stop taking pictures of humans, you capture them so beautifully and elegantly! You have a genuine talent that a lot of people don’t! I for one will never let a selfie take the place of photography (even if I do love a good selfie)! We have been so blessed to have such wonderful pictures to look back on! Thank you for your dedication!